System and method for automatically cleaning and washing ice cream or yogurt machine

ABSTRACT

A system for automatically cleaning and washing an ice cream machines includes a liquid container for storing raw materials; a freezing cylinder connected with the liquid container through a cleaning pathway; a water tank for storing rinse water to rinse the freezing cylinder and the cleaning pathway; a detergent tank for storing detergents to clean and wash the freezing cylinder and the cleaning pathway; a pump arranged on the cleaning pathway to selectively pump the raw material, the rinse water or the detergent; and a control panel adapted to control an on/off and cleaning.

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-In-Part application that claims thebenefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to a non-provisionalapplication, application Ser. No. 15/431,773, filed Feb. 14, 2017, whichis a non-provisional application that claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 120 to a provisional application, application No.62/345,765, filed Jun. 4, 2016, which are incorporated herewith byreferences in their entities.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as itappears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files orrecords, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention relates to ice cream and yogurt machine cleaningand washing, and more particularly to a system and method for cleaningand washing ice cream or yogurt machine automatically.

Description of Related Arts

Traditional ice cream and yogurt machines or makers are required toperiodical wash and clean in order to prevent serious sanitary problems,such as bacterial growth and contamination, generated inside componentsof the ice cream machines or makers. Generally, due to the complicatedstructure of the ice cream or yogurt machine, it has to be cleaned andwashed manually at least every two to three weeks.

A common cleaning method is the Pasteurization method that does notrequire to drain out the raw materials inside the direct expansionevaporator cylinder but simply heats the ice cream or yogurt makingsystem, including the direct expansion evaporator cylinder, to atemperature such as 65° C. and keeps such temperature for around 30minutes. Then, the ice cream or yogurt making system is cooled down to5° C. in 30 minutes in order to kill the bacteria therein with hot icecream or yogurt raw material. Each cleaning process must be operatedaround every 15 days. However, the Pasteurization method, in fact, isnot a cleaning nor washing method because the direct expansionevaporator cylinder and the pipelines of the ice cream or yogurt machinehave not been actually cleaned or washed but simply try to raise thetemperature to kill the bacteria. Practically speaking, the ice cream oryogurt original contained in the ice cream or yogurt machine which hadbeen heated to 65° C. are not suitable to consume and must be drainedout to abandon and discard. In addition, this Pasteurization method isnot suitable for yogurt because the probiotics in the yogurt will alsobe killed at the temperature of 65° C.

In order to really clean and wash the ice cream or yogurt machine, itmust be disassembled so as to wash and clean the interior of the directexpansion evaporator, the dispenser mechanism and their pipelinesmanually. For example, in the traditional washing method, the rawmaterials inside the direct expansion evaporator cylinder is required tobe drained out first, and then the cleaning water and detergents areinjected into the pipelines of the ice cream machines or markers todrain out the residue inside the ice cream machines or markers.

However, the traditional cleaning and washing method for ice creammachines or markers have several drawbacks.

The dispensing components such as the plunger, the mix hopper, the drawspout, the draw handle, the sector gear, and etc., are required to bedisassembled in order to reach the pipelines of flowing passages toclean such components and pipelines. In addition, each part of thecomponents is required to be manually disassembled and reassembled byhand or accessories, so lots of labor and time have to spend during thetraditional cleaning and washing method. In other words, since the icecream or yogurt machine and marker are required to be cleaned and washedperiodically, the components are easily to be damaged and broken duringdisassembling and reassembling. Furthermore, some components of the icecream machine and marker cannot be cleaned and washed effectively, suchas the freezing cylinders (direct expansion evaporator) and valves, sothe cleaning and washing efficiency of the traditional washing andcleaning method is relatively low, and the components which cannot befully cleaned or washed and are easily eroded, and in such a manner, notonly that components needs to be repaired, but also that the finishedice cream will be contaminated.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides a system and methodfor automatically cleaning and washing the ice cream or yogurt machine,wherein the components of the ice cream machines don't need to bedisassembled during the cleaning operation in order to enhance theefficiency for cleaning and washing the ice cream or yogurt machine aswell as prolong the life-span of the ice cream and yogurt machines.

Another advantage of the invention is to provides a system and methodfor automatically cleaning and washing the ice cream or yogurt machine,wherein not only the pipelines, including all flowing passages of theice cream or yogurt, but also the interior of the freezing cylinder ofthe ice cream or yogurt machine can be washed and cleaned thoroughly, soas to enhance the efficiency for cleaning and washing the ice creammachines.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a system and method forautomatically cleaning and washing the ice cream or yogurt machine,wherein the system comprises a control panel to not only control anon/off operation but also a cleaning operation of the ice cream oryogurt machine automatically without any labor in looking after ordisassembling any part or component thereof during the cleaning andwashing process.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a system and method forautomatically cleaning and washing the ice cream machines, wherein theliquid raw material container can be selectively changed to the watertank or detergent tank during the cleaning and washing process, so as tosimply the pipeline and structure of the ice cream or yogurt machine.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a system and method forautomatically cleaning and washing the ice cream machines, wherein thecleaning and washing method is a clean-in-place process that canthoroughly clean and wash all the flowing passages of the ice cream oryogurt, including the interior of the freezing cylinder and thepipelines of the ice cream or yogurt without moving or disassembling anycomponent and connecting any additional equipment to the ice cream oryogurt machine.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a system and method forautomatically cleaning and washing the freezing cylinder of the icecream or yogurt machine, wherein the refrigerant and the heat exchangechannel therein of the freezing cylinder (direct expansion evaporator)which is thermally communicating with the feeding channel of thefreezing cylinder with the refrigerant flowing therein for cooling theice cream or yogurt raw material to frozen product are alternatively andselectively utilized to heat up the frozen ice cream or yogurt in thefreezing cylinder for draining out and the cleaning liquid fed into thefreezing cylinder for cleaning and washing after the raw material hasbeen drained out.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the description which follows, and may be realized by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appendedclaims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects andadvantages are attained by a system for automatically cleaning andwashing an ice cream or yogurt machine, wherein the system comprises:

a liquid container for storing raw materials;

a freezing cylinder connected with the liquid container through acleaning pathway;

a rinse containing device comprising at least a water tank for storingrinse water to rinse the freezing cylinder and cleaning pathway whichmay further comprise a detergent tank for storing one or more detergentsto clean and wash the freezing cylinder and cleaning pathway;

a pump arranged on the cleaning pathway to selectively pump the rawmaterial, the rinse water and/or the detergent; and

a control panel adapted to control an on/off and cleaning operation.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the presentinvention comprises a method for automatically cleaning and washing anice cream or yogurt machine, wherein the method comprises the followingsteps:

(a) Stop feeding the raw materials to the freezing cylinder.

(b) Absorb the residues inside the freezing cylinder, and drain out theresidues.

(c) Inject the rinse liquid including water and one or more detergentsthrough the freezing cylinder and the pipeline.

(d) Inject rinse water through the freezing cylinder and the pipeline.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a method and system for automaticallycleaning and washing ice cream machines according to a first preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a method and system for automaticallycleaning and washing ice cream machines according to a second preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an exemplary ice cream or yogurtmachine.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary pipeline of all flowpassages of an ice cream or yogurt machine.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an ice cream or yogurt machine accordingto a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a schematic view illustrating the liquid container receivingchamber of the ice cream or yogurt machine according to the above thirdpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a schematic view illustrating an alternative mode of rinseliquid supply of the ice cream or yogurt machine according to the abovethird preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6C is a schematic view illustrating another alternative mode ofrinse liquid supply of the ice cream or yogurt machine according to theabove third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a freezing cylinder according to the abovethird preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the thermal exchange arrangementof the ice cream and yogurt machine according to the above thirdpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments areprovided in the following description only as examples and modificationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principlesdefined in the following description would be applied to otherembodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applicationswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a system for automatically cleaningand washing ice cream or yogurt machine according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the systemcomprises a liquid container 1 for storing raw materials for productssuch as ice cream, yogurt, beverages and the like in frozen manner, afreezing cylinder 2, for example a direct expansion evaporator,connecting with the liquid container 1 and a dispensing device through apipeline, adapted to make the ice cream or yogurts from the rawmaterials, a rinse containing device for storing a rinsing liquid, whichmay include a detergent tank 3 for storing one or more detergents and awater tank 4 for storing the rinse water, an air inlet 6 adapted toconduct outside air to the freezing cylinder, a pump 8 adapted toselectively pump the raw materials or the detergents and the rinse waterinto the freezing cylinder 2, and a control panel 5 adapted to controlan on/off and a cleaning operation of the ice cream or yogurt machine.In addition, the liquid container 1, the freezing cylinder 2, thedetergent tank 3, and the water tank 4 are connected with each otherthrough a pipeline, wherein the pipeline comprises a duct 9, a duct 10,a duct 11, and a duct 12 defining a cleaning pathway, wherein the rawmaterials stored inside the liquid container 1 is fed from the liquidcontainer 1 to the freezing cylinder 2 through the duct 9, and the icecream or yogurt is made in the freezing cylinder 1 and dispensed througha dispensing system of the ice cream or yogurt machine. In someembodiments, the air can be conducted into the freezing cylinder 1through the air inlet 6, so the air is mixed with the raw materialsinside the freezing cylinder 2 so as to produce the soft-serve productssuch as ice cream, yogurt, beverages and the like.

According to the first preferred embodiment, the one or more detergentscan be fed from the detergent tank 3 to the freezing cylinder 2 throughthe duct 10 which is integrally connected with the duct 9. The rinsewater is fed from the water tank 4 to the freezing cylinder through theduct 11 which is integrally connected with the duct 10. In other words,since the raw materials is fed through the duct 9 to the freezingcylinder 2, the residue will be remained inside the duct 9 and thefreezing cylinder 2.

It is worth mentioning that the detergents may also be premixed with thewater and contained in the detergent tank 3 and fed into the freezingcylinder 2 through the duct 10. Also, the rinse water can be suppliedfrom a water supply such as a water faucet connected to the duct 11 orthe duct 10 via a three-way valve.

Generally, the raw materials for freezing into ice cream or yogurt arefed from the liquid container 1 to the freezing cylinder 2 through theduct 9 by the pump 8, wherein the raw materials will be frozen by thefreezing cylinder 2 and dispensed through the dispensing system, and thefrozen ice cream or yogurt residues will be remained inside the duct 9and freezing cylinder 2 even after the raw materials are drained out ofthe system. Therefore, the rinse water stored inside the rinse watertank 4 and the detergent stored inside the detergent tank 3 are fedthrough the duct 9 to the freezing cylinder 2 in order to efficientlyclean the pipeline and the freezing cylinder 2 of the ice cream oryogurt machine.

The system according to the first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention further comprises a heating unit 7 operatively connected withthe freezing cylinder 2 to heat the freezing cylinder 2, wherein theheating unit 7 is adapted to absorb the ice cream residues remaininginside the freezing cylinder 2, so as to facilitate the ice cream oryogurt residues being completely drained out from the freezing cylinder2. In addition, after the rinse water fed into the freezing cylinder 2,the rinse water can also be heated by the heating unit 7 to clean andwash out all the ice cream or yogurt residues, and then the freezingcylinder 2 can be rinsed more efficiently by the heated rinse water.

According to the first preferred embodiment, the pump 8 is a peristalticpump, wherein the pump 8 can be activated by the control panel 5 to pumpthe raw materials, the detergents, or the rinse water to the freezingcylinder 2. The system further comprises a valve 13 arranged at the duct9, a valve 14 arranged at the duct 10, and a valve 15 arranged at theduct 11. Accordingly, while only the valve 13 is opened, only the rawmaterials stored in the liquid container 1 is fed to the freezingcylinder 2. While only the valve 14 is opened, only the detergents arefed to the freezing cylinder 2. While only the valve 15 is opened, onlythe rinse water is fed to the freezing cylinder 2.

According to the first preferred embodiment, the control panel 5comprises an on/off module and a cleaning operation module, wherein theon/off module can be activated to turn on and turn off the operation ofthe freezing cylinder 2, and the cleaning operation module can beactivated to turn on and turn off the cleaning operation. It is worth tomention that the cleaning operation module can be activated to turn onand turn off the cleaning operation by times or usage, that is to turnon and turn off the cleaning operation of the cleaning and washingsystem of the ice cream or yogurt machine automatically at predeterminedor preset times, or to turn on and turn off the cleaning operation ofthe cleaning and washing system of the ice cream or yogurt machinemanually according to the need of the user of the ice cream or yogurtmachine. In other words, the cleaning operation can be set up to turnon/turn off by times, such as one week per time, three days per time, ordaily, and in addition, the cleaning operation module also can be set upto turn on/turn off the cleaning operation by usage, such as that thecleaning operation module can be activated to turn on the cleaningoperation while the raw materials stored inside the liquid container 1are pumped to the freezing cylinder 2 by 100 loads. And, the controlpanel 5 further comprises a sensor connected to the freezing cylinder 2to detect the usage loads of the liquid containers 1. It is worthmentioning that the control panel 5 further comprises a valve module tocontrol an on/off operation of each of the valve 13, the valve 14, andvalve 15.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a system of automatically cleaningand washing the ice cream or yogurt machine according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, whereinthe system comprises a liquid container 1A for storing raw materials forthe soft-serve products, such as ice cream, yogurt, beverages and etc.,a freezing cylinder 2A adapted to freeze the raw materials to make thefrozen ice cream or yogurts, a rinse containing device which maycomprises a detergent tank 3A for storing one or more cleaningdetergents and a water tank 4A for storing the rinse water, an air inlet6A adapted to conduct outside air to the freezing cylinder 2A, a pump 8Aadapted to pump the raw materials, the detergent, and the rinse waterinto the freezing cylinder 2A, and a control panel 5A adapted to controlan on/off and a cleaning operation of the ice cream or yogurt machine,wherein the raw materials stored inside the liquid container 1A is fedfrom the liquid container 1A to the freezing cylinder 2A through theduct 9A, and the ice cream or yogurt is made in the freezing cylinder2A. In one embodiment, the air can be conducted into the freezingcylinder 2A through the air inlet 6A, so the air can be mixed with theraw materials inside the freezing cylinder 2A so as to produce the icecream or yogurt product.

The liquid container 1A can be selectively replaced by rinse containingdevice, such as the water tank 4A or detergent tank 3A, in order toprocess the cleaning operation, wherein the liquid container 1A, thewater tank 4A, and the detergent tank 3A can be selectively connected tothe duct 9A to selectively pump the raw materials, the rinse water, orthe detergents into the freezing cylinder 2A.

The system according to the second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention may further comprise a heating unit 7A operatively connectedwith the freezing cylinder 2A to heat the freezing cylinder 2A, whereinthe heating unit 7A is adapted to absorb the ice cream or yogurtresidues remaining inside the freezing cylinder 2A, so as to facilitatethe ice cream or yogurt residues being drained out from the freezingcylinder 2A. In addition, after the rinse water fed into the freezingcylinder 2A, the rinse water can be selectively heated by the heatingunit 7A, and then the freezing cylinder 2A can be rinsed by the rinsewater or heated rinse water.

The system according to the second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention may further comprise a valve 13A arranged at the duct 9A.Accordingly, while the valve 13A is opened, the raw materials storedinside the liquid container 1A is fed to the freezing cylinder 2A aslong as the duct 9A is connected to the liquid container 1A. If the duct9A is connected to the detergent tank 3A, the detergents are fed to thefreezing cylinder 2A. If the duct 9A is connected to the water tank 3A,the rinse water is fed to the freezing cylinder 2A.

According to the second preferred embodiment, the control panel 5Acomprises an on/off module and a cleaning operation module, wherein theon/off module can be activated to turn on and turn off the operation ofthe freezing cylinder 2A, and the cleaning operation module can beactivated to turn on and turn off the cleaning operation. It is worthmentioning that the cleaning operation module can be activated to turnon and turn off by times or usage, wherein the cleaning operation can beset up to turn on/turn off automatically according to predetermined orpreset times, such as one week per time, three days per time, or dailyafter the business hours, and the cleaning operation module also can beset up to turn on/turn off by usage, that is being manually activated bythe user according to his or her actually need. For example, thecleaning operation module can be activated to turn on the cleaningoperation while the raw materials stored inside the liquid container 1Aare pumped to the freezing cylinder 2A by 100 loads. And, the controlpanel 5A may further comprise a sensor connected to the liquid container1A to detect the usage loads of the liquid containers 1A. It is worth tomention that the control panel 5A further comprises a valve module tocontrol an on/off operation of the valve 13A.

According to the above preferred embodiments, it is worth mentioningthat the system for cleaning and washing the ice cream or yogurt machineincludes mostly the components of the ice cream or yogurt machine, suchas the liquid container 1, 1A, the freezing cylinder 2, 2A, the pump 8,8A, and the control panel 8, 8A. In order to convert an ice cream oryogurt machine to equip with the system for cleaning and washing the icecream or yogurt machine, the machine may simply be modified to providethe ducts 9, 10, 11, 12, the rinse containing device including the waterand detergent tanks 3, 3A, 4, 4A, and the valves 13, 14, 15, and tomodified the control panel 5, 5A to provide the on/off module andcleaning operation module.

According to the above first and second preferred embodiments, a methodfor automatically cleaning and washing the ice cream or yogurt machineis provided, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) stopping feeding the raw materials to the freezing cylinder 2, 2A;

(b) absorbing the ice cream or yogurt residue inside the freezingcylinder 2, 2A, and draining out the residue;

(c) injecting the water through the freezing cylinder 2, 2A and thepipeline; and/or

(d) injecting the one or more detergents or detergents mixed with waterthrough the freezing cylinder 2, 2A and the pipeline; and

(e) finally, injecting the rinse water through the freezing cylinder 2,2A and the pipeline.

In the step (a), the pump 8, 8A is activated to be turned off by thecontrol panel 5, 5A, so that no raw material is fed into the freezingcylinder 2, 2A. Alternatively, the valve 13 can be turned off by thecontrol panel 5, 5A, no raw material is fed into the freezing cylinder2, 2A. It is worth to mention that, in the second preferred embodiment,the liquid container, 1A can be selectively replaced by the rinsecontaining device, including the water tank 4A and/or the detergent tank3A, so that while the valve 13A is opened, the raw materials, the rinsewater, or the detergents can be selectively fed into the freezingcylinder 2A through the duct 9A.

In the step (b), the freezing cylinder 2,2A is heated by the heatingunit 7, 7A, and the ice cream or yogurt residue is dissolved andabsorbed by the heated water or water mixed with detergents and thendrained out from the freezing cylinder 2, 2A.

In the step (c), in the first preferred embodiment, the valve 13 and thevalve 14 are closed, the valve 15 is turned on, and the pump is turnedon, so that the rinse water can be fed through the pipeline and thefreezing cylinder 2, so as to clean and wash the pipeline and thefreezing cylinder 2.

Accordingly, the step (c) further comprises a step of (c1): heating therinse water, wherein the heated rinse water is passing through thepipeline and the freezing cylinder 2, 2A, so as to wash and clean thepipeline and the freezing cylinder 2, 2A. In other words, the heatedrinse water has a better washing efficiency than the regular temperaturerinse water.

In the step (d), in the first preferred embodiment, the valve 13 isclosed, the valve 14 is turned on, and the pump 8 is turned on, so thatthe one or more detergents can be fed through the pipeline and thefreezing cylinder 2, so as to clean and wash the pipeline and thefreezing cylinder 2.

In the step (e), the detergent residue can be cleaned and drained out bythe rinse water. In other words, the one or more detergents are usuallychemicals, so it may cause harmful for the human body. Therefore, thestep (e) can prevent the detergents remained inside the pipeline and thefreezing cylinder 2, 2A. Of course, if the detergents are made of edibleelements, the step (e) may also be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 8, a system for automatically cleaning andwashing an ice cream or yogurt machine according to a third preferredembodiment is illustrated. The system for cleaning and washing an icecream or yogurt machine according to the third preferred embodiment ofthe present invention can be applied to the ice cream or yogurt machineas shown in FIGS. 5-8 or any conventional ice cream or yogurt machine asshown in FIG. 3, which illustrates a block diagram of a conventional icecream or yogurt machine 10′ such as the U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,701 as anexample, wherein an ice cream or yogurt machine comprises a liquidcontainer 1′, a freezing cylinder 2′, a mix hopper 14′ for containingsoft-serve material mixed by one or more raw materials stored in theliquid container 1′ and being in flow communication with the freezingcylinder 2′, a pipeline 3′ connecting the liquid container 1′ and themix hopper 14′ to the freezing cylinder 2′ and the freezing cylinder 2′to a draw spout device 41′ of a dispensing device 4′ via a plunger 42′thereof, and a beater assembly 21′ installed within the freezingcylinder 2′ for expelling frozen soft-serve product such as ice cream oryogurt from the freezing cylinder 2′ via the pipeline 3′ to the drawspout 41′. As shown in FIG. 4, a pipeline of all flow passages such asU.S. Pat. No. 8,335,587 is illustrated as an example, wherein a pump 8′is provided to pump the raw materials though the freezing cylinder 2′and the pipeline 3′ to produce frozen soft-serve product such as icecream or yogurt to be dispensed at the draw spout 41′ of the dispensingdevice 4′, as illustrated in FIG. 6C.

The freezing cylinder 2′ can be the conventional freezer barrel asillustrated in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,145,701, 8,335,587 patents or animproved direct expansion evaporator as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos.8,272,231, 8,534,086 invented by the inventor of this application, asshown in FIG. 7, wherein the freezing cylinder (direct expansionevaporator) 2′ comprises a feeding channel 10A′ and a heat exchangechannel 20A thermally communicating with the feeding channel 10A′ forheat exchanging.

The feeding channel 10A′ has a feeding end 12A′ and an oppositedispensing end 14A for the one or more raw materials of ice cream oryogurt feeding through the feeding channel 10A from the feeding end 12A′to the dispensing end 14A′. An air inlet 16A′ is also formed at thefeeding end 12A′ of the feeding channel 10A′ to enable air and the oneor more raw materials being mixed together before the mixed one or moreraw materials are heat-exchanged with the refrigerant 60A′.

The heat exchange channel 20A′ has an inlet 22A′ and an outlet 24A′preferably for the refrigerant 60A′ flowing through the heat exchangechannel 20A′, wherein the feeding channel 10A′ is coaxially aligned withthe heat exchange channel 20A′. Accordingly, the refrigerant 60A′ isguided to pass through the heat exchange channel 20A′ from the inlet22A′ to the outlet 24A′ for heat exchanging with the raw material withinthe feeding channel 10A′. Therefore, the one or more raw materials areguided to enter into the feeding end 12A′ of the feeding channel 10A′while the frozen soft-sever product, i.e. ice cream or yogurt, is guidedto exit the dispensing end 14A′ of the feeding channel 10A′.

The inlet 22A′ of the heat exchange channel 20A′ is preferably locatedadjacent to the dispensing end 14A′ of the feeding channel 10A′, whilethe outlet 24A′ of the heat exchange channel 20A′ is located adjacent tothe feeding end 12A′ of the feeding channel 10A′. Therefore, a flowdirection of the refrigerant 60A′ flowing from the inlet 22A′ to theoutlet 24A′ of the heat exchange channel 20A′ is concurrent and oppositeto a feeding direction of raw material feeding from the feeding end 12A′to the dispensing end 14A′ of the feeding channel 10A′, so as toefficiently freezing the raw material to the frozen product.Alternatively, the flowing direction of the refrigerant 60A′ and thefeeding direction of the raw material may be in the same directiondepending on the design and purpose of the direct expansion evaporator.However, the opposite direction between the refrigerant 60A′ and the oneor more raw materials as the preferred embodiment will enhance theenergy efficiency of the heat exchange process.

It is worth mentioning that, the heat exchange channel 20A′ and thefeeding channel 10A′ may be formed in variety of shapes for therefrigerant 60A′ and the one or more raw materials passing therewithinrespectively. The heat exchange channel 20A′ may thermally communicatewith the feeding channel 10A′ for heat exchanging with the raw materialin a plurality of configurations to achieve the heat transport betweenone medium, embodied as refrigerant, to another medium, embodied as rawmaterial for making frozen product.

In particular, the traveling path of the heat exchange channel 20A′,i.e. the helix distance between the inlet 22A′ and the outlet 24A′ ofthe heat exchange channel 20A′, is long enough for phase-changing therefrigerant 60A′ that the refrigerant 60A′ is in liquid phase under apredetermined high pressure when entering into the heat exchangingchannel 20A′ and is in gaseous phase when exiting the heat exchangingchannel 20A′.

Accordingly, the thermal energy, which is needed for making the frozensoft-serve product, is preferably through the phase change between theliquid phase and the gaseous of the refrigerant 60A′. The refrigerant60A′ is preferably in liquid phase under a predetermined high pressurewhen entering into the heat exchange channel 20A′ through the inlet22A′. The liquid phase refrigerant 60A′ is rapidly converting intogaseous phase after the refrigerant 60A′ entering the heat exchangechannel 20A′ due to an expansion of area within the heat exchangechannel 20A′ and a pressure drop to decrease the boiling point of therefrigerant 60A′. In addition, the thermal energy is exchanged betweenthe refrigerant 60A′ and the raw material. Therefore, a negative thermalenergy is released via the absorption of the phase change of therefrigerant 60A′ from liquid to gaseous state. Thus, the refrigerant60A′ is able to be evaporated to gaseous phase in an expansion manner,so as to prevent a back flow of the liquid refrigerant 60A′ and tomaximize the cooling capacity.

In other words, the liquid refrigerant 60A′ is in gaseous phase exitingthe heat exchange channel 20A′ through the outlet 24A′, such that thethermal energy can be totally release from the phase change of liquidrefrigerant 60A′ to gaseous state. For example, the refrigerant 60A′ maybe stored in a high pressure container in liquid state. The liquidrefrigerant 60A′ may be entered into the heat exchange channel 20A′ in apressurized manner, so that the liquid refrigerant 60A′ is rapidlyevaporated in the relatively lower pressure and larger space of heatexchange channel 20A′. The conversion of the liquid phase to gaseousphase is an absorption reaction, so that the refrigerant 60A′ absorbs asignificant amount of heat from the raw material in the feeding channel10A′, so as to release negative thermal energy for making the frozenproduct.

In order to form the heat exchange channel 20A′ from the outer guidingduct 30A′, the outer guiding duct 30A′ is pressed by machine at theouter surrounding wall of the outer guiding duct 30A′. Accordingly, ahelix indention 50A′ is formed at the outer guiding duct 30A′ to formthe heat exchange channel 20A′ partitioned by a helix partition 51A′,wherein a peak 511A′ of the helix partition 51A′ is biased against theouter surrounding wall of the inner guiding duct 32A′ to conceal theheat exchange channel 20A′ along the inner guiding duct 32A′ in aweld-less manner.

It is worth mentioning that the above description of the conventionalice cream or yogurt machines and freezing cylinder is merely forfacilitating the illustration of features of the present invention butnot intending to form any limitation to the scope of the presentinvention.

According to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, itis appreciated that the system for cleaning and washing ice cream oryogurt machine includes existing components of the machine without theneed to install additional expensive or complicated devices or to havetoo much modification in structure to the machine. It is not only to beapplied in the new made machine but also convenient in modifying anyexisting machine to perform the automatic cleaning and washing functionfor the machine.

According to the above preferred embodiments, the system for cleaningand washing the ice cream or yogurt machine includes components of themachine, including at least the freezing cylinder 2′ for freezing theraw materials feeding from the liquid container 1′ to produce the frozensoft-serve product such as ice cream or yogurt, the pipeline 3′connecting the liquid container 1′ with the freezing cylinder 2′ and thefreezing cylinder 2′ to the dispensing device 4′, the pump 8′ adaptedfor pumping the one or more raw materials from the liquid container 1′to the freezing cylinder 2′ and the frozen soft-serve product from thefreezing cylinder 2′ to the dispensing device 4′ via the pipeline 3′which comprises a feeding pipeline 31′ connecting the liquid container1′ with the freezing cylinder 2′ and a dispensing pipeline 32′connecting the freezing cylinder 2′ with the dispensing device 4′, and acontrol module 5′ adapted for controlling the operation of the feedingof the raw materials from the liquid container 1′ to the freezingcylinder 2′ by the pump 8′, the operation of the heat exchange of thefreezing cylinder 2′, the operation of the dispensing of the frozensoft-serve product from the freezing cylinder 2′ to the dispensingdevice 4′, and the dispensing operation of the dispensing device 4′. Thecontrol module 5′ is modified from the control panel of the general icecream or yogurt machine that not only executes and controls theoperation of the freezing cylinder 2′ to make ice cream or yogurt andthe dispensing of the ice cream or yogurt soft-serve product through thedispensing device 4′, but also further includes an on/off module 51′ anda cleaning operation module 52′, wherein the on/off module 51′ controlsthe cleaning and washing time and activates the cleaning operationmodule 52′ to control the unfrozen and draining out of the remaining rawmaterial and ice cream or yogurt in the freezing cylinder 2′ andpipeline 3′ as well as the feeding of the detergents and water forcleaning and washing of the freezing cylinder 2′ and pipeline 3′.

In order to provide the automatic cleaning and washing system for theice cream or yogurt machine as described above, the system furthercomprises a rinse liquid supply 10′ for supplying rinsing liquid whichis embodied as a rinse containing device 11′ in the third preferredembodiment for replacing the liquid container 1′ in the liquid containerreceiving chamber 100′ during the cleaning and washing operation, asshown in FIG. 6A. The rinse containing device 11′ comprises a detergenttank 111′ for storing one or more detergents, preferable edibledetergents, and a water tank 112′ for storing rinse water, wherein theinlet terminal 311′ of the feeding pipeline 31′ of the pipeline 3′ whichis originally placed in the liquid container 1′ for pumping rawmaterials in the liquid container 1′ to the freezing cylinder 2′ is alsomoved to place in the detergent tank 111′ or the water tank 112′ of therinse containing device 11′. It is worth mentioning that the detergenttank 111′ and the water tank 112′ can be the same tank body that whenthe one or more detergents are stored therein, it is functioning as thedetergent tank 111′ and, when the rinse water is stored therein, it isfunctioning as the water tank 112′.

Alternatively, the rinse liquid supply 10′ may also comprises a rinsecontaining device 11′ and a water supply 12′, wherein the rinsecontaining device 11′ merely comprises a detergent tank 111′ which canbe selectively installed in the ice cream or yogurt machine to replacethe liquid container 1′ during the cleaning and washing time so that noextra space is required to place the detergent tank 111′, as shown inFIG. 6B. Or, alternatively, when a new ice cream and yogurt machine ismade, additional space can also be designed to install the rinsecontaining device 11′, as shown in FIG. 6C, wherein a second inletterminal 312′ of the feeding pipeline 31′ of the pipeline 3′ isconnected therein where a feeding three-way valve 313′ is installedbetween the inlet terminal 312′ and the second inlet terminal 312′ ofthe feeding pipeline 31′ for selectively switching the feeding of theraw materials in the liquid container 1′ or the detergents in thedetergent tank 111′ into the feeding pipeline 31′ by the cleaningoperation module 52′ of control module 5′. The water supply 12′comprises a water supply pipeline 121′ having one end connected to awater source such as a water faucet and another end connected to thefeeding pipeline 31′ if the pipeline 3′ via a three-way valve 313′ whichis controlled by the cleaning operation module 52′ of the control module5′.

Referring to FIG. 8, a thermal exchange arrangement 20′ of the ice creamor yogurt machine according to the third preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated, wherein the thermal exchangearrangement 20′ comprises the freezing cylinder 2′, such as the directexpansion evaporator 2A′ as disclosed above as an example, a thermalexchange device 21′, such as a condenser, having a first outlet 211′connecting to the inlet 22A′ of the direct expansion evaporator 2A′(freezing cylinder 2′) with a first refrigerant duct 201′ for feedingcold liquid refrigerant 60A′ into the exchange channel 20A′ of thefreezing cylinder 2′ (direct expansion evaporator 2A′), and a compressor22′ connecting to the thermal exchange device 21′ with a compressor duct202′ for compressing refrigerant to feed in the thermal exchange device21′ and to the outlet 24A′ of the direct expansion evaporator 2A′(freezing cylinder 2′) with a second refrigerant duct 203′ for receivinggaseous refrigerant from the outlet 24A′ and delivering back to thecompressor 22′. According to the third preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the thermal exchange arrangement 20′ furthercomprises a third refrigerant duct 204′ having one end connected to thethermal exchange device 21′ to collect heated refrigerant and anotherend connected the inlet 22A′ of the direct expansion evaporator 2A′(freezing cylinder 2′), wherein the compressor 22′ and the three-wayvalve 23′ are controlled by the cleaning operation module 52′ of thecontrol module 5′.

According to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention,the heating unit 7, 7A as described in the above first and secondpreferred embodiments is embodied as the thermal exchange arrangement20′ to produce heat to melt and dissolve the frozen ice cream or yogurtresidue in the freezing cylinder 2′ and pipeline 3′ and be absorbed bythe detergents and/or rinse water to enhance the cleaning and washingability to the freezing cylinder 2′ and the pipeline 3′. This isaccomplished by the thermal exchange device 21′ of the thermal exchangearrangement 20′. The thermal exchange device 21′ substantially conductsthermal exchange to produce cold air and hot air at the same time. Whenthe thermal exchange device 21′ is functioned for refrigeration and usedto condense gaseous form refrigerant from the outlet 24A′ to liquid formrefrigerant for feeding to the inlet 22A′ of the exchange channel 20A′of the freezing cylinder 2′ during the normal operation of producingsoft-serve ice cream or yogurt product by the freezing cylinder 2′.However, when the cleaning and washing operation of the machine isactivated by the on/off module 51′ of the control module 5′, thecleaning operation module 52′ of the control module 5′ activates thethermal exchange device 21′ to function in a reverse way as a heater(functioned as the heating unit 7, 7A as described in the above firstand second embodiments) to product heat and the inlet 22A′ of thefreezing cylinder 2′ is switched to connect to the third refrigerantduct 204′ so that the heated refrigerant produced by the heat transferof the thermal exchange device 21′ is fed into the exchange channel 20A′of the freezing cylinder 2′ to heat up the raw materials, the frozen icecream or yogurt residue, the detergents, and/or the rinse water in thefreezing cylinder 2′.

If the detergent tank 111′ is used to replace the liquid container 1′,after the business hours, firstly, stop feeding raw materials into thefreezing cylinder 2′ and, when the scheduled cleaning and washingoperation time starts, the remaining raw materials or frozen ice creamor yogurt soft-serve product contained in the freezing cylinder 2′ aredrained out via the dispensing pipeline 32′ and dispensing device 4′automatically or manually, and then the liquid container 1′ is replacedwith the detergent tank 111′ of the rinse containing device 11′ and theinlet terminal 311′ of the feeding pipeline 31′ of the pipeline 3′ ofthe machine is placed into the detergents in the detergent tank 111′.Then, when the preset automatic cleaning and washing predetermined timestarts, the thermal exchange device 21′ is activated to reverselyfunction as the heating unit to circle heated refrigerant to theexchange channel 20A′ of the freezing cylinder 2′ to warm up and meltthe residues of the raw materials and/or frozen ice cream or yogurt inthe feeding channel 10A′ of the freezing cylinder 2′ for ease ofcleaning out, and then the one or more detergents contained in thedetergent tank 111′ which may further be mixed with water for desiredconcentration are pumped into the feeding pipeline 31′, fed into andthrough the feeding channel 10A′ of the freezing cylinder (directexpansion evaporator) 2′ to wash out the residues of the dissolved rawmaterials and ice cream or yogurt in the freezing cylinder 2′, anddispensed through the dispensing pipeline 32′ and the dispensing device4′, wherein the thermal exchange device 21′ may continuously be operatedas the heating unit to circle heated refrigerant to the exchange channel20A′ of the freezing cylinder 2′ to warm up and dissolve the detergentsand rinse water to facilitate the cleaning and washing the feedingchannel 10A′ of the freezing cylinder 2′.

If the additional detergent tank, which is either installed in themachine or outside the machine, is arranged, after the business hours,stop feeding raw materials into the freezing cylinder 2′ and, when thescheduled cleaning and washing operation time starts, the remaining rawmaterials and ice cream or yogurt contained in the freezing cylinder 2′are drained out via the dispensing pipeline 32′ and dispensing device 4′automatically or manually, wherein the draining out of the raw materialsor unfrozen ice cream or yogurt soft-serve product contained in thefreezing cylinder 2′ may also set to be processed automatically by thethe/off module 51′ of the control module 5′ when the preset automaticcleaning and washing predetermined time starts. Then, the thermalexchange device 21′ is activated to reversely function as the heatingunit to circle heated refrigerant to the exchange channel 20A′ of thefreezing cylinder 2′ to warm up and dissolve the residues of the rawmaterials and/or frozen ice cream or yogurt in the feeding channel 10A′of the freezing cylinder 2′ for ease of cleaning out, and then the oneor more detergents contained in the detergent tank 111′ which mayfurther be mixed with water for desired concentration are pumped intothe feeding pipeline 31′, fed into and through the feeding channel 10A′of the freezing cylinder (direct expansion evaporator) 2′ to wash outthe residues of the dissolved raw materials and ice cream or yogurt inthe freezing cylinder 2′, and dispensed through the dispensing pipeline32′ and the dispensing device 4′, wherein the thermal exchange device21′ may continuously be operated as the heating unit to circle heatedrefrigerant to the exchange channel 20A′ of the freezing cylinder 2′ towarm up and dissolve the detergents and rinse water to facilitate thecleaning and washing the feeding channel 10A′ of the freezing cylinder2′.

According to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, itdoes not require to disassemble any component of the ice cream or yogurtmachine but simply preset the cleaning and washing time to apredetermined operation time, generally after business hours even everyday and the machine will execute the cleaning and washing operation ofthe freezing cylinder 2′ and the pipeline 3′ automatically without anymanual monitoring or operation.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of automaticallycleaning and washing the ice cream or yogurt machine according to theabove preferred embodiments, which comprises the following steps:

(A) Record a preset of a predetermined automatic cleaning and washingoperation time in the on/off module 51′ of the control module 5′ andactivating the cleaning operation module to process when the presetoperation time starts.

(B) Stop the feeding of the one or more raw materials into the freezingcylinder 2′.

(C) Drain out the remaining raw materials and/or soft-serve product,such as ice cream or yogurt, from the freezing cylinder 2′ via thedispensing pipeline 32′ and the dispensing device 4′.

(D) Heat to melt the frozen residues of the raw materials and ice creamor yogurt in the freezing cylinder 2′ and drain out the unfrozenresidues of the raw materials and ice cream or yogurt in the freezingcylinder 2′ and pipeline 3′ through the dispensing pipeline and thedispensing device.

(E) Feed the one or more detergents which may be mixed with water toreach a desired concentration through the feeding channel 10A′ of thefreezing cylinder 2′ and pipeline 3′, until the feeding channel 10A′inside the freezing cylinder 2′ and the pipeline 3′ are cleaned andwashed out all residues of the raw materials and ice cream or yogurt.

(F) Feed rinse water through the feeding channel 10A′ of the freezingcylinder 2′ and pipeline 3′ until they are cleaned and washed.

The step (E) further comprises the step of heating detergents by theheating unit (thermal exchange arrangement) in the freezing cylinder 2′.

The step (F) further comprises the step of heating the rinse waterperiodically by the heating unit (thermal exchange arrangement) in thefreezing cylinder 2′. In other words, the rinse water fed to clean andwash the feeding channel 10A′ of the freezing cylinder 2′ and thepipeline 3′ is selectively heated for a predetermined of time and thenis not heated and remained in room temperature or cold in alternationfor couple times.

The above steps (A) to (F) are executed automatically upon the controlof the control module 5′ without labor and manual monitoring oroperation.

The step (D) further comprises the steps of:

(D1) switching the refrigeration function of the thermal exchangearrangement 20′ to heating function; and

(D2) feeding the heating refrigerant into the exchange channel 20A′ ofthe freezing cylinder 2′ to heat the feeding channel 10A′ of thefreezing cylinder 2′. This heating step (D2) is continuously orselectively executed and controlled by the cleaning operation module 52′of the control module 5′ during the step (E) and step (F) to heat thefeeding channel 10A′ of the freezing cylinder 2′ so as to heat updetergents and rinse water feeding therethrough to enhance the cleaningand washing ability of the detergents and rinse water.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of cleaning and washing an ice cream or yogurt machine, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a liquid container storing raw materials for making ice cream or yogurt in a freezing cylinder having an air inlet formed at a feeding end of a feeding channel of the freezing cylinder adapted to conduct air to the freezing cylinder to mix with the raw materials inside the freeing cylinder to produce an ice cream or yogurt product, a water tank containing rinse water and a detergent tank containing one or more detergents, wherein during a normal operation of the freezing cylinder, a thermal exchange device which is thermally communicated with a feeding channel of the freezing cylinder for heat exchange is function for refrigeration and used to condense gaseous form refrigerant to liquid form refrigerant through an exchange channel of the freezing cylinder to produce the ice cream or yogurt product; (b) providing a pipeline connecting the liquid container and a mix hopper to the freezing cylinder and the freezing cylinder to a dispensing device, and, through a feeding pipeline of the pipeline, selectively connecting the liquid container to the freezing cylinder for pumping the raw materials to the freezing cylinder by a pump, or connecting the water tank and the detergent tank for pumping the rinse water and the one or more detergents into the freezing cylinder by the pump; (c) turning off a normal operation of the freezing cylinder by a control panel to stop feeding the raw materials from the liquid container to the freezing cylinder and to stop the thermal exchange device to function for refrigeration, and activating a cleaning operation module of the control panel to turn on a cleaning operation automatically; (d) activating the thermal exchange device to function as a heating unit to produce heat, heating the freezing cylinder through the thermal exchange device to warm up and melt ice cream or yogurt residue inside the freezing cylinder, and draining out the ice cream or yogurt product inside the freezing cylinder via a dispensing pipeline of the pipeline and the dispensing device; (e) feeding the water from the water tank by the pump into the feeding channel of the freezing cylinder through the feeding pipeline of the pipeline to absorb the ice cream or yogurt residue in the pipeline and the freezing cylinder, and draining the ice cream or yogurt residue absorbed by the water from the pipeline and the feeding channel of the freezing cylinder through the dispensing pipeline of the pipeline and the dispensing device, while the thermal exchange device continuously being operated as the heating unit to heat the water feeding through the feeding channel of the freezing cylinder; (f) passing the water from the water tank and the one or more detergents from the detergent tank by the pump through the feeding pipeline of the pipeline for being fed into and through the feeding channel of the freezing cylinder and dispensed through the dispensing pipeline of the pipeline so as to clean and wash the pipeline and the freezing cylinder, while the thermal exchange device continuously being operated as the heating unit to heat the water feeding through the feeding channel of the freezing cylinder; (g) feeding the water from the water tank only by the pump through the pipeline and freezing cylinder to clean and drain out detergent residue in the feeding pipeline and dispensing pipeline of the pipeline and the feeding channel of the freezing cylinder by the water to prevent the one or more detergents remained inside the pipeline and the freezing cylinder; and (h) turning off the cleaning operation and turning on the normal operation of the freezing cylinder.
 2. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein in the step (a), during the normal operation of the freezing cylinder, the thermal exchange device is used to condense gaseous form refrigerant from an outlet of the exchange channel located adjacent to the feeding channel of the freezing cylinder for feeding to an inlet of the exchange channel of the freezing cylinder, wherein in the step (d), during the cleaning operating of the pipeline and the freezing cylinder, the thermal exchange device is activated to function in a reverse way as a heater to produce heat and the inlet of the freezing cylinder is switched to connect a refrigerant duct which has one end connected to the thermal exchange device to collect a heating refrigerant and another end connected to the inlet of the freezing cylinder, such that the heating refrigerant is fed into the exchange channel of the freezing cylinder to heat up the ice cream or yogurt residue in the feeding channel of the freezing cylinder.
 3. The method, as recited in claim 2, wherein the cleaning operation is turned on and turned off by the cleaning operation module according to predetermined times.
 4. The method, as recited in claim 2, wherein the cleaning operation is turned on and turned off by the cleaning operation module according to a predetermined number of usage loads of the raw materials pumped to the freezing cylinder.
 5. The method, as recited in claim 4, wherein a sensor is connected to the freezing cylinder for detecting the usage loads of the liquid containers.
 6. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the cleaning operation is turned on and turned off by the cleaning operation module according to predetermined times.
 7. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the cleaning operation is turned on and turned off by the cleaning operation module according to a predetermined number of usage loads of the raw materials pumped to the freezing cylinder.
 8. The method, as recited in claim 7, wherein a sensor is connected to the freezing cylinder for detecting the usage loads of the liquid containers. 